Alexander Isak says Liverpool’s first Premier League victory under Andoni Iraola is close, despite the Reds opening the 2026-27 campaign with successive 2-2 draws.
Liverpool had to recover from behind twice against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, with Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White putting the visitors ahead. Isak equalised the first time before substitute Victor Munoz secured a point with a late goal.
The result followed Liverpool’s opening-day draw by the same scoreline at Newcastle United, meaning Iraola is still waiting for his first competitive win since taking charge at Anfield.
Isak believes Liverpool’s difficulties are understandable as the squad adjusts to a new manager and a different tactical approach.
He told TNT Sports: “I think there’s no problem with our fighting spirit and never giving up. I think we showed that last week as well.
“Obviously, we started the game pretty badly today as well. When we gained momentum by scoring a goal, that’s where we need to be better, I think, because again today we conceded quite quickly after that.
“But from the position we were in, it’s always good to get something out of the game. There’s always time to get used to a new playing style and a new manager.
“But we are really working hard to try to play the game he wants us to play, and I think when we start doing that better, I have no doubt that the results will come.”
The draw was another notable result in Liverpool’s early-season record. They have become only the second Premier League team to begin a campaign with consecutive 2-2 draws, after Everton did so in 2014-15.
It is also only the second time in the past 14 seasons that Liverpool have failed to win either of their first two league matches. The other occasion came in 2022-23, when they also drew both games.
For Isak, the match brought another personal landmark against Forest. The Sweden international has now scored seven Premier League goals against them, his joint-highest total against a single opponent alongside Tottenham.
Only Alan Shearer, with 10, and Matt Le Tissier, with eight, have scored more Premier League goals against Forest.
Despite not yet winning with Liverpool, Iraola’s unbeaten Premier League run has extended to 20 matches and stretches back to early January. He is only the 12th manager to record a 20-game unbeaten sequence in the competition, while being the first to do so across two different clubs. His run is listed as 18 wins and 12 draws.
The Liverpool manager was unhappy with two marginal offside decisions, including one that ruled out a first-half goal from Florian Wirtz, but he was encouraged by the team’s response after the interval.
“It was two different halves. I think we were very poor in the first half,” Iraola said.
“Their goal was slightly onside and the [disallowed] one we scored was slightly offside with VAR, so you need to be on the right side. We were much, much better in the second half.
“The intensity was different. If you’re going to lose, you have to lose like we were in the second half – more intense and threatening. I was happy with the second half, but it was too late to win the game.”
Liverpool’s next opportunity to claim their first victory of the season comes against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Friday. They then begin their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid on 9 September.
